1856.] or, a Family Fracas. 33 



Mr. Jordan's death, 'here is the will, sir, and I presume I have nothing 

 further to do than to thank you for your courtesy, and bid you good 

 evening. ' 



' Stay a moment,' he said. ' Let me look at the document. Humph ! 

 a strange will. He leaves the form of an advertisement here, which is 

 to be inserted in the morning papers, calling his relations together, to 

 here the will read.' 



' Indeed !' 



• Yes, Well, I shall, as I see I am named trustee, do as he wishes. 

 He states that he is very poor.' 



' Why, he spoke to me of £20,000.' 



' Did he really ? A delusion, sir, quite a delusion. £20,000 ! He 

 had that amount twenty-five years ago. But, sir, as you have attended 

 him, and as I happen to know>e had a high opinion of you, I should 

 like you, as his friend, to be with me, as it were, in future proceedings 

 (3onnected with his will !" 



' In which there is a mystery, eh ! Mr. Shaw !' 



'A little— perhaps a little bit of post mortem revenge, that is all, 

 which I am not now at liberty to descant upon. But I will take care to 

 coincide with you, and I shall hope that you will follow the old fellow to 

 the grave.' 



I promised that much, and duly attended the funeral. It was a quiet, 

 walking affair, and from the manner of it I felt quite convinced that 

 there were not funds to make it otherwise. A mound of earth alone 

 marked the spot in the little church-yard at Barnes, where Mr. Jordan 

 slept the sleep that knows no waking. A drizzling rain came down. 

 The air was cold and eager, and I returned home from the funeral of 

 Mr. Jordan, about as uncomfortable as I could. 



The next day the following advertisement appeared in a morning 

 paper, and caught my eye as I sat at breakfast : 



' If any of the relations of Mr. John James Jordan, deceased, will call 

 at the office of Mr. Shaw, 20, Lincoln's-Inn Fields, they will hear of 

 something advantageous.' 



I made up my mind to call upon Mr. Shaw during the day, and about 

 three o'clock, I reached his chambers, or rather I reached the stair-case 

 leading to them, and there I had to stop, for it was quite besieged by 

 men and women, who were all conversing with great eagerness. 



'What can it mean?' said an old woman; a'm his aunt, and of 

 course I speak for my Ned !' ' Well, but bother your Ned,' said a man, 

 ' he hardly really belongs to the family. I'm his brother. Think of 



VOL. I., NO. I. 3. 



